Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec is in the middle of a controversy with officials from the Czech Republic national team over his availability for next month's IIHF world championships.

At his exit meetings with Jet coaches and management last weekend the 24-year-old native of Kladno told the club he was tired from a long season -- he appeared in a career-high 68 games and was hoping the team would throw up a stop sign at his participation at the worlds.

But the Jets opted not to be his 'out' and told him they would support his decision whether he opted out of the championships or suited up and played.

Earlier this week Czech head coach Alois Hadamczik seemed to be under the impression the Jets were preventing Pavelec from playing, telling iDNES.cz -- the largest news company in the country -- that he was disappointed the star goaltender would not be available.